Shri Arjun Ramesh Vs Mr Tushar Giri Nath — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Shri Arjun Ramesh Vs Mr Tushar Giri Nath — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No contempt proceedings initiated; both complaints closed, with clarification that the closure will not preclude the complainants from agitating their grievance in respect of the said award.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed wilful disobedience of the orders dated 18.01.2023 in W.A No.1226/2022 (LA-RES) and W.A No.1228/2022 (LA-RES) directing them to pass an award, warranting initiation of contempt proceedings, trial and punishment.

Court's answer

Since the document dated 24.06.2025 handed over by counsel for the accused appears to be an award determining the compensation payable, the Court did not consider it apposite to initiate any proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and closed both complaints.

Ratio / Principle

The closure of the complaints will not preclude the complainants from agitating their grievance in respect of the said award.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil contempt complaints under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 r/w Article 215 of the Constitution, filed by land-owning complainants against BBMP officials (Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner (Land Acquisition) and Executive Engineer), alleging wilful disobedience of the Division Bench orders dated 18.01.2023 in W.A No.1226/2022 (LA-RES) and W.A No.1228/2022 (LA-RES), whereby the appellants were directed to take appropriate steps to pass an acquisition award within the stipulated period, with liberty to the complainants to apply under Section 64 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. Counsel for the accused produced a document dated 24.06.2025 (in Kannada) submitted to be an award determining the compensation payable, and stated that part of the amount stood deposited with the remainder to be deposited before the reference court. Holding it not apposite to initiate contempt proceedings, the Division Bench (Vibhu Bakhru, CJ) closed both complaints, expressly clarifying that the closure would not preclude the complainants from agitating their grievance in respect of the award.

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:2931-DB CCC No. 152 of 2025 c/w CCC No.153 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 152 OF 2025 c/w

CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION No.153 OF 2025

IN CCC No.152/2025

BETWEEN:

SHRI ARJUN RAMESH S/O SHRI RAMESH AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS R/AT NO.5, SRI RAJA RAJESHWARI LAYOUT BEHIND DRDO PHASE-II DOORAVANINAGAR POST BENGALURU - 560 016

Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B Location: High Court of Karnataka

SHRI ADITYA RAMESH S/O SHRI RAMESH AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS R/AT NO.5, SRI RAJA RAJESHWARI LAYOUT BEHIND DRDO PHASE-II DOORAVANINAGAR POST BENGALURU - 560 016

BOTH REP. BY THEIR MOTHER AND GPA HOLDER, SMT. SWARNALATHA RAMESH AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS W/O SRI RAMESH R/AT NO.5, SRI RAJA RAJESHWARI LAYOUT BEHIND DRDO PHASE-II

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:2931-DB CCC No. 152 of 2025 c/w CCC No.153 of 2025

HC-KAR

DOORAVANINAGAR POST BENGALURU - 560 016

…COMPLAINANTS

(BY SRI RAVEENDRAN P, ADVOCATE)

AND:

MR. TUSHAR GIRI NATH CHIEF COMMISSIONER BRUHATH BANGALORE MAHANAGARA PALIKE N R SQUARE

BANGALORE - 560 002

MR PRATEEK BAYAL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (LAND ACQUISITION) BRUHATH BANGALORE MAHANAGARA PALIKE N R SQUARE BANGALORE - 560 002

MR B.V. JAYASHANKAR REDDY THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER BRUHATH BANGALORE MAHANAGARA PALIKE (ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE) MAHADEVAPURA DIVISION NO.105, 1^ST FLOOR NEAR ANNEX BUILDING - 03 N.R. SQUARE BANGALORE - 560 002

…ACCUSED

(BY SRI MONESH KUMAR K.B., ADVOCATE)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED PERSON, HOLD TRIAL AND PUNISH THE ACCUSED PERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, FOR THE WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF SUBMISSION BY WAY OF UNDERTAKING IN CCC NO.856/2023 RESULTING TO CLOSURE OF THE COMPLAINT BY RECORDING SUBMISSION OF ACCUSED PERSONS VIDE ORDER DATED 09.02.2024 AS PER ANNEXURE-A & ETC.

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:2931-DB CCC No. 152 of 2025 c/w CCC No.153 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN CCC No.153/2025

BETWEEN:

MR ANI CHIRAVAKKATH AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS S/O SHRI CHANDRAN R/AT CHIRAVAKKATH HOUSE THALAKKULATHUR POST KOZHIKODE, KERALA - 673 317

REP. BY HIS BROTHER AND GPA HOLDER MR. PUSHKARAN C.V. AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS S/O. SHRI CHANDRAN R/AT No.5, TEJA LAYOUT NEAR GANGAMMA TEMPLE MAHADEVAPURA POST BANGALORE - 560 048

…COMPLAINANT

(BY SRI RAVEENDRAN P., ADVOCATE)

AND:

MR TUSHAR GIRI NATH CHIEF COMMISSIONER BURHATH BENGALURU MANHANAGAR PALIKE N.R. SQUARE, BANGALORE - 560 002

MR. PRATEEK BAYAL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (LAND ACQUISITION) BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGAR PALIKE N.R. SUQRE, BANGALORE - 560 002

MR. B.V. JAYASHANKAR REDDY THE EXCUTIVE ENGINEER BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGAR PALIKLE (ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE) MAHADEVAPURA DEVISION No.105, 1^ST FLOOR NEW ANNEX BUILDING -03 N.R. SQUARE, BANGALORE - 560 002

…ACCUSED

(BY SRI MONESH KUMAR K.B., ADVOCATE)

4 - NC: 2026:KHC:2931-DB CCC No. 152 of 2025 c/w CCC No.153 of 2025

HC-KAR

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED PERSON, HOLD TRIAL AND PUNISH THE ACCUSED PERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, FOR THE WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF SUBMISSION BY WAY OF UNDERTAKING IN CCC NO.857/2023 RESULTING TO CLOSURE OF THE COMPLAINT BY RECORDING SUBMISSION OF ACCUSED PERSONS VIDE ORDER DATED 09.02.2024 AS PER ANNEXURE-A.

THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

The complainants have filed the present complaints alleging wilful disobedience of separate orders dated 18.01.2023 passed by this Court in W.A No.1226/2022 (LA-RES) and W.A No.1228/2022 (LA-RES). In terms of the said orders, the accused (the appellants) were directed to take appropriate steps to pass an award within the stipulated period. The complainants were also granted liberty to make an application taking recourse of Section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. It is the complainants' grievance that the said order has not been complied with.

5 - NC: 2026:KHC:2931-DB CCC No. 152 of 2025 c/w CCC No.153 of 2025

HC-KAR

The learned counsel appearing for the accused has handed over certain documents, including the document dated 24.06.2025 (in Kannada language) which the counsel submits, is an award. It appears from the said document that the compensation payable has been determined.

In view of the above, we do not consider it apposite to initiate any proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act, 1971. The complaints are, accordingly, closed.

The learned counsel appearing for the accused also states that a part of the amount has already been deposited and the remaining amounts shall be deposited with the reference court.

We clarify that this will not preclude the complainants from

agitating their grievance in respect of the said award.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

AHB, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 27